Luminous and luminescent sign



A1184 1949- w. L. KOHLHAUER ET AL 80,584

LUMINOUS AND LUMINESCENT SIGN Filed Nov. 1, 1947 Zmnemors W/LL MM L. KOHL HA L/ER W/LL/AM R. B/RD 3 J (Ittorneg Patented Aug. 30, 1949 [UNITED sinfr LUMINOUS AND LUMINESCENT SIGN William L. Kohlhauer and William R. Bird, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,562

. 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to a sign that is clearly readable under poor light conditions and even under conditions of substantial darkness.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sign that has both luminous and luminescent areas so that the symbol or symbols thereof are readily visible by reason of the contrast between said areas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign element, a series of which are adapted to be integrated to form a complete sign having the characteristics above-stated.

Our invention also has, for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenience in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability,

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters. designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of one sign element and a portion of an adjacent one, showing features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the out! wardly directed face of the inner or rear lamina or plate.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the rearwardly directed face of the outer or front lamina or plate.

The term symbo as used in this disclosure and in the claims, is intended to designate a number, letter, figure, design, or other device that maybe used on a sign.

The terms luminous or luminous material are intended to define any of the paints, coatings, sheets, etc., that have the property of glowing under conditions of darkness and typically contain radio-active ingredients.

The terms luminescent, or luminescent ma-,-.

terial, or luminescent coating, define a mate: rial that after exposure to light is luminous in the dark for a period of time.

One element of the contemplated sign com: prises, generally, a rear plate 5, a front plate 6, means 1 to connect the plates in superimposed relation, a luminous symbol 8 carried by the front plate, and a luminescent face 9 on the rear plate.

Each plate is preferably transparent although the rear plate may be either transluscent or opaque, if desired. The plates may be made of glass, but it is preferred that they be formed of a synthetic resin, an example of which is known in the trade as Lucite. The plates have the same form and size to be coincidental when superimposed. No matter what their shape, they preferably have lateral edges of substantial extent. In order that each element have suitable contiguity to the adjacent one of a series of elements, means are provided to interfit them. As shown, such means comprises a tongue l0 along one lateral edge and a groove l 5 along the other.

The means I may comprise a layer of adhesive, cement or thelike l2, applied around the peripheral edge of the superimposed plates, and when said plates are resins, acetate cements may be advantageously employed. These adhesives may be transparent or colored for a variety of effects. Additionally, the means 1 may include nails or screws l3 that pierce the elements and serve to secure them to a support face M.

The symbol 8 may be formed by impressing the rear face of the outer plate 5 to a suitable depth to form a recess 15 having the configuration of the symbol. This, in resins, may be ac complished by heat and pressure or by pressure alone. The recess is then coated or filled with a suitable luminous material 15 to delineate the symbol and render it visible from the front. Of course, a luminescent material or coating may be used.

The face 9 of the rear plate 5 is shown as corrugated to form raised areas I! and alternate depressed areas I8. The areas I! may be fiat and the areas I8 may be curved transversely. The latter are coated with a luminescent material l9 or, if the symbol is coated with such a material, a luminous coating may be used. The corrugations may extend vertically, as shown, or diagonally or horizontally. However, corrugations.

are optional since the alternate raised and depressed areas may have a variety of forms both geometrical and otherwise.

It will be evident that by mounting a series of sign elements, as above defined, upon a support, the same can readily be read under conditions of darkness by reason of the luminosity and luminescence of the symbol and background. By giving these materials different colors their contrast, in light, is heightened for better visibility.

While we have illustrated and described what Having ithusidescribed our invention, what \we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A sign comprising two plane transparent elements secured together along their coincidental peripheral edges, the inner face of one element being recessed to form a symbcil,=luminous'-material in said recess and visible from the front of the sign, the inner face of :the other :element being corrugated to have alternate high and low areas, and luminescent material coating said low areas whereby said coated areas are also visible from the front er" ith'e signand during conditions of'darhness.

2. ii-signcompris'ingtwo plane transparentelemerits formed --of synthetic resin and secured together along their coincidental peripheral edges, the inner face-of one element being recessed -to form a-symbol, luminous material in said recess and visible from the front-of the sign, the inner face 'of the other element being corrugated to have alternate h'igh andlow'areas, and luminescentrnaterial'coatingsaid lowareas whereby said coated areas are also visible "from the front of the sign and during conditions of darkness.

3. Asign comprising two tra'nspa-rent synthetic resin :elements secured together in face-to-face relation, one element comprising the outer-of the two and 'having its inner face recessed to form a symbol, luminous material substantially filling said recess and visible from the outer side 'of the outer element, the other element having its outwardly directed face formed with high and 'low areas, and luminescent material coating said low areas and visible from the outer side through the transparent portions of the outer element during conditions of darkness.

4. A sign comprising two transparent synthetic resin elements secured together in face-to-face relation, one element comprising the outer of the two and having its inner face recessed to form a symbol, the other element having its outwardly directed face formed with highrareas :alternating with recessed =areas, luminous matez ial "coating the recesses of one element, and luminescent material coating the recesses of the other element, whereby under:conditions of darkness the coated areas of both elements are visible through the outerfaceofitheouter element.

5. Asign comprising two transparent synthetic resin elements secured together in face-to-face REFERENCES ZGI IED The following references are of record in the file of this ,patent:

nm'rnn STATES Number Name Date 878,758 Wiley Feb. 11, 1908 1,361,380 ,Gay, Dec. 7 1920 1,383,855 Fordyce Aug. 3'0, 1921 1,813,491 Gil'la'rd July 7, i931 

